November 25, 2941 (S.R. 1341)1. Thorin is laid to rest.(determined from text)..."They buried Thorin deep beneath the Mountain, and Bard laid the Arkenstone upon his breast. ..."There let it lie till the Mountain falls!" he said. "May it bring good fortune to all his folk that dwell here after!" ...Upon his tomb the Elvenking then laid Orcrist, the elvish sword that had been taken from Thorin in captivity. It is said in songs that it gleamed ever in the dark if foes approached, and the fortress of the dwarves could not be taken by surprise. There now Dain son of Nain took up his abode, and he became King under the Mountain... ...many other dwarves gathered to his throne in the ancient halls. Of the twelve companions of Thorin, ten remained. Fili and Kili had fallen defending him with shield and body, for he was their mother's elder brother. The others remained with Dain; for Dain dealt his treasure well."

I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world.

November 26, 2941 (S.R. 1341)1. The treasure is divided.(determined from text)..."There was, of course, no longer any question of dividing the hoard in such shares as had been planned, to Balin and Dwalin, and Dori and Nori and Ori, and Oin and Gloin, and Bifur and Bofur and Bombur—or to Bilbo. Yet a fourteenth share of all the silver and gold, wrought and unwrought, was given up to Bard... ...Dain said: "We will honour the agreement of the dead, and he has now the Arkenstone in his keeping." ...Even a fourteenth share was wealth exceedingly... ...greater than that of many mortal kings. From that treasure Bard sent much gold to the Master of Lake-town; and he rewarded his followers and friends freely. To the Elvenking he gave the emeralds of Girion, such jewels as he most loved, which Dain had restored to him. ...To Bilbo he said: "This treasure is as much yours as it is mine; though old agreements cannot stand, since so many have a claim in its winning and defence. Yet even though you were willing to lay aside all your claim, I should wish that the words of Thorin, of which he repented, should not prove true: that we should give you little. I would reward you most richly of all." ..."Very kind of you... ...But really it is a relief to me. How on earth should I have got all that treasure home without war and murder all along the way... ... And I don't know what I should have done with it when I got home. I am sure it is better in your hands." ...In the end he would only take two small chests, one filled with silver, and the other with gold, such as one strong pony could carry. "That will be quite as much as I can manage," said he."

November 26, 3019 (S.R. 1419)1. The Shire is reborn.(not from the appendices-no text)...Sam stood back and looked at the wall of bricks he and the others had just finished. This is the fifth hole they've restored in a few short weeks. The group smiled as they exchange glances and gather their tools. "And now to the Dragon to be sure their stock is in order," he chuckled to the

I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world.

November 27, 2941 (S.hR. 1341)1. Bilbo and Gandalf finally leave for home.(determined from text)..."At last the time came for him to say good-bye to his friends. "Farewell, Balin!" he said; "and farewell, Dwalin; and farewell Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur! May your beards never grow thin!" ...turning towards the Mountain he added: "Farewell Thorin Oakenshield! And Fili and Kili! May your memory never fade!" ...Then the dwarves bowed low before their Gate, but words stuck in their throats. "Good-bye and good luck, wherever you fare!" said Balin at last. "If ever you visit us again, when our halls are made fair once more, then the feast shall indeed be splendid!" ..."If ever you are passing my way," said Bilbo, "don't wait to knock! Tea is at four; but any of you are welcome at any time!" ...Then he turned away... ......Gandalf and Bilbo rode behind the Elvenking, and beside them strode Beorn, once again in man's shape, and he laughed and sang in a loud voice upon the road."

I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world.

November 28, 3019 (S.R. 1419)1. The Gift of Galadriel(not from the appendices)..."The trees were the worst loss and damage, for at Sharkey's bidding they had been cut down recklessly far and wide over the Shire; and Sam grieved over this more than anything else. For one thing, this hurt would take long to heal, and only his great-grandchildren... ...would see the Shire as it ought to be. ...Then suddenly one day, for he had been too busy for weeks to give a thought to his adventures, he remembered the gift of Galadriel. He brought the box out and showed it to the other Travellers (for so they were now called by everyone), and asked their advice. ...'I wondered when you would think of it,' said Frodo. 'Open it!' ...Inside it was filled with a grey dust, soft and fine, in the middle of which was a seed, like a small nut with a silver shale. 'What can I do with this...?' ...'...Throw it in the air on a breezy day and let it do its work!' said Pippin. ...'On what?' said Sam. ...'Choose one spot as a nursery, and see what happens to the plants there,' said Merry. ...'But I'm sure the Lady would not like me to keep it all for my own garden, now so many folk have suffered,' said Sam. ...'Use all the wits and knowledge you have of your own, Sam,' said Frodo, 'and then use the gift to help your work and better it. And use it sparingly. There is not much here, and I expect every grain has a value.' ...So Sam planted saplings in all the places where specially beautiful or beloved trees had been destroyed, and he put a grain of the precious dust in the soil at the root of each. He went up and down the Shire in this labour; but if he paid special attention to Hobbiton and Bywater no one blamed him... ...at the end he found that he still had a little of the dust left; so he went to the Three-Farthing Stone... ...near to the centre of the Shire as no matter, and cast it in the air with his blessing. The little silver nut he planted in the Party Field where the tree had once been; and he wondered what would come of it. All through the winter he remained as patient as he could, and tried to restrain himself from going round constantly to see if anything was happening."

I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world.

What you say is so true. He is a solid as the lands and trees he loves. I'll bet the greats had a few conversations about him that would be accompanied by many shakes of the head and smiles all around.

Frodo's quiet suggestion... and confidence in his friend... was the best. Trust yourself, Sam... who carried that sensibility into years of tending Hobbiton as Mayor :)

I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world.

Here are a couple of Book Spoilers that sum up the Bagginsesessss' Quests... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.

From The Silmarillion: Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age..."...For, as many songs have since sung, it was the Periannath, the Little People, dwellers in hillsides and meadows, that brought them deliverance. ...For Frodo the Halfling, it is said, at the bidding of Mithrandir took on himself the burden, and alone with his servant he passed through peril and darkness and came at last in Sauron's despite even to Mount Doom; and there into the Fire where it was wrought he cast the Great Ring of Power, and so at last it was unmade and its evil consumed."

AND

From Of the Finding of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring: Prologue..."As is told in The Hobbit, there came one day to Bilbo's door and the great Wizard, Gandalf the Grey, and thirteen dwarves with him... ...Thorin Oakenshield, descendant of kings, and his twelve companions in exile. With them he set out, to his own lasting astonishment, on a morning of April... ...on a quest of great treasure, the dwarf-hoards of the Kings under the Mountain, beneath Erebor in Dale, far off in the East. The quest was successful, and the Dragon that guarded the hoard was destroyed. Yet, though before all was won the Battle of Five Armies was fought, and Thorin was slain, and many deeds of renown were done, the matter would scarcely have concerned later history... ...but for an 'accident' by the way. The party was assailed by Orcs in a high pass of the Misty Mountains as they went towards Wilderland; and so it happened that Bilbo was lost for a while in the black orc-mines deep under the mountains, and there, as he groped in vain in the dark, he put his hand on a ring, lying on the floor of a tunnel. He put it in his pocket. It seemed then like mere luck. ...Trying to find his way out, Bilbo went on down to the roots of the mountains, until he could go no further. At the bottom of the tunnel lay a cold lake far from the light, and on an island of rock in the water lived Gollum.... ...He possessed a secret treasure that had come to him long ages ago, when he lived still in the light: a ring of gold that made its wearer invisible. It was the one thing he loved, his 'precious', and he talked to it, even when it was not with him... ....For he kept it hidden safe in a hole on his island, except when he was hunting or spying on the orcs of the mines.... ......[After escaping and reuniting with his companions, Bilbo's] account was that Gollum had promised to give him a present, if he won the game; but when Gollum went to fetch it from his island he found the treasure was gone: a magic ring, which had been given to him long ago on his birthday. Bilbo guessed that this was the very ring that he had found, and as he had won the game, it was already his by right. But being in a tight place, he said nothing about it, and made Gollum show him the way out, as a reward instead of a present. This account Bilbo set down in his memoirs...."

I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world.

Interesting that this Elvish/Gondorian version of the War of the Ring does not mention the creature Gollum as being the one who actually carried the Ring to its Doom!

Frodo, of course, did not cast it into the fire, it took all his strength and will to just bring it to that point. But heroes are created by those who sing their songs - and deeds may be "improved upon" to fit the desires of the populace.

And these become the stories which "really mattered"! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

November 30, 2941 (S.R. 1341)1. Bilbo, Gandalf and Beorn depart from the Elves.(determined from text)... "Gandalf and Bilbo rode behind the Elvenking, and beside them strode Beorn... ...and he laughed and sang in a loud voice upon the road. So they went on until they drew near to the borders of Mirkwood, to the north of the place where the Forest River ran out. Then they halted, for the wizard and Bilbo would not enter the wood, even though the king bade them stay a while in his halls. They intended to go along the edge of the forest, and round its northern end in the waste that lay between it and the beginning of the Grey Mountains... ...Moreover Beorn was going that way too. ..."Farewell! O Elvenking!" said Gandalf. "Merry be the greenwood, while the world is yet young! And merry be all your folk!" ..."Farewell! O Gandalf... ...May you ever appear where you are most needed and least expected! The oftener you appear in my halls the better shall I be pleased!"..."I beg of you," said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, "to accept this gift!" and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting. ... "In what way have I earned such a gift, O hobbit...?" ... "...Well, er, I thought, don't you know," said Bilbo rather confused, "that, er, some little return should be made for your, er, hospitality. I mean even a burglar has his feelings. I have drunk much of your wine and eaten much of your bread." ... "I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent!" said the king gravely. "And I name you elf-friend and blessed. May your shadow never grow less (or stealing would be too easy)! Farewell!" ... Then the elves turned towards the Forest, and Bilbo started on his long road home."

I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world.